Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-05-12
In A MICA MINE.
The Great New Hampshire Deposit an
the Way it is Worked

The Great New Hampshire Deposit and
the Way il is Worked.
9. B. Griffith in the Boston Transcript
One OF the finest mica sometimes wrongly called
isinglass> mines In this country IL located On
Fletcher Mountain, In the little township OF Gro
ton, n. H., about two miles from Rumney Depot
on the line OF the Boston, Lowell and Montreal
Railroad.
A cool, bracing breeze stirred the budding
naples as we, rested from our early climb, again
set forth 20 reach this industrial Mecca. Half way
up the steep incline we found the airy home Of
the teanster, jolly Frenchman, perched on q
broad, messy boulder, with its cellar open to the
day. But this humble domicile commanded An un-
rivalled view of Franconias misty ranges Nearer
by could be seen the white crown Of Moosilauke,
the Black, and the Watervile Mountains, and,
seemingly at our feet, Loon Lake, perfect
gem, reminding those who have been abroad
OF the lochs for which Scotland iS famous.
Still our aspirations lead rs sxyward. and soon
the overseer followed, and then we were shown
an animated sight. Looking down two pits each
some thirty-five deep, their sides bright with lay
ers OF almost pure mica, embedded between rocks
tollers. some On Temporary tel stagings 81 rough
boards, halfway up the pit, were welding six
Pouno nammers striking In regular succession S ION
their mates, and sinking deep but narrow cavi-
ties for the reception Of the blast; some were
eSe Gx and IN sas
from above and here and theirs were parties push
Ing the loaded cars to the dump-and all were
The mica lies in veins, averaging from foot to
> feet in thickness. and is often blown out in
blocks, or pieces, weighing from 70 to 40 pounds.
large baskets, and after being partially cleaned,
is borne to the cutting shop. This is a long. COM
running the length of both sides, having shelves
above. Some feet apart are placed steel shears,
having foot and a half blaze and long handle
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strong armed, busy workmen, OF whom fifteen are
here employed. On the shelves before each cutter
mica is Cut into various sizes The proper pat S
tern with the mica beneath Is held In one hand,
while with the other each man rapidly plies the
sharp shears. The days work is piled up before
them in square compartments, and put into pound
packages ranging In size from 2x3k inches to sx
10 inches. 1t Is used mostly in stoves and ranges
but it is also cut for doors and electric Ughts.
At one end of this building sat two men splitting
the layers OF mica brought from the mine with
into conversation with them we learned that they
daily find specimens strongly resembling animals
utensils &C., and were shown pieces that closely
cOunterieited the form of elephantA rabbits,
mules, &C. one OF the employers in the finishing
shop showed us mica woman, wearing seven
men that had appropriately been named "rhe Old
Man OF the Mountain" We also saw some curious
pieces which, by contact with iron rust, had
ferns; salmon-coiored mica from Canada, and
some very beautiful ir1discent specimens from
NOUN CarODna.
In the company's Office, on the Brook road, we
We're shown huge sheet Of mica two feet long
and one and half wide almost as clear as crystal
and six-sided prism OF nearly pure beryl, weigh
Ing ninety pounds, both OF which were found In
the Nalencia" two years ago. 1t is singular fact
that platinum, one or the hardest ores known will
melt In vessel made or mica. Heat does not af.
feet this singular product, but water in time Will
lnjure it. The layers may also be split thinner
than wafer and often reflect all the coors OF the
rainbow. We took a peep into the smithy, and
saw In the glowing Goals OF the forge dozen or
more drills OF as many different sizes, at red heat,
while many other implements used in the mines
were strewn around waiting their turn to be sharp
ened or repaired. About fifty hands are employed
in or around this mine
Descending to the finishing Shop ut the foot of
the mount aims, we were ushered Into large light
room on the ground floor, which was thtckiy car
peted with the imperfect layers Of mica cast aside
by the female help. None OF the mica from this
mine, however, Is thrown away, for even the re.
fuse Is ground up, mixed with Oil, and used as
lubricant In this room, ranged on stools with
trays upon the benches before them to receive the
perfect pieces, sat dozen young women, each
holding small knife OF the pattern used by
shoemakers, with which they rapidly and dex-
terouSly split and cleaned the shining substance
In the StOre-rOOm we saw small boxes in form and
size such as usually contain dozen farmers
ScytheS, yet two OF these receptacleS can hold
thousand dollars worth OF mica One hundred
pounds is usually put in q box. All the marketa-
bic product Of the mine is shipped TO Utica n. Y.
whence 1t Is sold to the trade